Thrissur: Seven excise sleuths, accused in the custodial death of an alleged drug peddler, are absconding. Ranjith Kumar (40) of Thripankode in Tirur died after the accused, attached to a special squad, allegedly assaulted him at a godown in Guruvayur. The godown belongs to a liquor baron.
Though notices were issued to eight officials to be present before ACP Biju Bhaskar as part of the probe, none except an excise driver turned up. The mobile phones of all other officials were switched off. The driver is a cancer patient.
Many local people had told the police that they had seen the excise team taking Ranjith to the godown. City Police Commissioner G S Yatish Chandra said that the police had accessed CCTV visuals which proved that Ranjith Kumar was taken into custody from near the Gurvayoor bus stand.
Police have registered murder charges against the accused excise officials. Police have registered the statement of the excise inspector in charge of the special squad.
